Correct head position training device for golfers

ABSTRACT

A training device adapted to teach a golfer to keep his head down during swings at the ball has a unitarily cast bellows with a whistle carried in a cavity formed in the lower wall thereof and operatively connected therewith. The bellows is fastened to the front part of a vertically disposed strap of foam-backed plastic that is adapted to be formed in inverted U shape to overlie a portion of the shoulder region of the golfer. The vertically disposed strap is held in place by a torso-encircling connecting strap passing under the arms of the golfer.

[51] IIILCI.

United States Patent Gentilly [54] CORRECT HEAD POSITION TRAINING DEVICE FOR GOLFERS [72] Inventor: Edwin E. Gentilly, 14029 Gramatan Ave.,

Cleveland, Ohio 441 1 l 221 Filed: Nov. 12, 1970 21 Appl. No.1 88,124

..273/ 183 B, 46/ 179 .A63b 69/36 [58] FleldoiSearch ..273/l83, 188, 189, 190, 54 B; 46/179 [52] U.S.Cl.

[ 56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,306,662 6/1919 Geer ..46/l79 1,668,023 5/1928 Murphy ..273/l90BX 5] Feb. 22, 1972 1,956,201 4/1934 Roberts ..273/54 BC 2,774,601 12/1956 White ..273/ 190 C 3,091,454 5/1963 Sam ..46/l79 X Primary Examiner-George J. Marlo Attorney-Theodore A. Te Grotenhuis [57] ABSTRACT A training device adapted to teach a golfer to keep his head down during swings at the ball has a unitarily cast bellows with a whistle carried in a cavity formed in the lower wall thereof and operatively connected therewith. The bellows is fastened to the front part of a vertically disposed strap of foam-backed plastic that is adapted to be formed in inverted U shape to overlie a portion of the shoulder region of the golfer. The vertically disposed strap is held in place by a torso-encircling connecting strap passing under the arms of the golfer.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTE0FB22 I972 BJMBSSO FIG. 2

FIG. 4 INVENTOR.

EDWIN E. GENTILLY ATTORNEY CORRECT HEAD POSITION TRAINING DEVICE FOR GOLFERS The present invention relates to an apparatus for improving the scores of golfers. It particularly relates to apparatus that facilitates the maintenance of a correct position when a golf player swings at the golf ball.

Experienced golfers have long recognized that there is but one correct position in which to execute the swinging of a golf club. One of the most important elements of the correct swing during the drives and other shots executed by the golfer is the pointing of the chin of'the golfer. It is exceptionally important that during the downswing and until after the moment of impact that the golfer keep his head down and still and his eyes on the golf ball. A great many devices have been proposed during the last 70 years or so which have for their objects the warning of the golfer when he moves his head in an improper manner. None of these devices has become commercially feasible, either because of their complexity, their inconvenience to the golfer, or their lack of effective functional operability.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device that can be worn by the golfer without inconvenience and without restricting him in any way, but which will effectively improve his golf game by teaching him to keep his head in the proper position during his swing at the ball.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device which is simple, of very little weight, is readily manufacturable, which can be produced at relatively low cost and yet will assist golf pros in the training of their pupils in the proper head position during their swing at the ball.

Other objects will be apparent from the accompanying description of the invention as illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device on the body of a golfer as seen from the front of the golfer who is wearing the device;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view longitudinally through a portion of the device, taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view through the portion of the device taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the device for training golfers illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, inclusive.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals of reference throughout the several views, the golf-training device of the present invention comprises means, preferably a flexible mounting strap, for attaching the device to the shoulder region of the golfer. This attaching means comprises a relatively wide, flexible mounting strap 1, which, when flexed in the inverted U- shaped manner shown in FIG. 1, is adapted to be disposed vertically and overlie the front, top, or crest and back portions of the shoulder region of the golfer. The attaching means further comprises a suitable torso strap or tie means 2, which surrounds the upper torso of the golfer just below his armpits. The strap means 1 which serves to directly carry the warning portion of the device is preferably constructed of foambacked flexible plastic material, such as a laminate of polyurethane foam 5 and a plasticized polyvinylchloride layer 4, or the equivalent. The strap 1 is disposed so that the flexible plastic portion 4 constitutes the top or outer surface and the foamed polyurethane or foamed rubberlike material 5 is on the underside.

Suitable means, such as one of the pairs of slots 6 and 7 and 8 and 9 are provided at the respective front and back end portions of the mounting strap 1 for attaching the ends thereof to the horizontally disposed torso-encircling strap 2, which is adapted to surround the torso of the golfer just below his armpits and maintain the shoulder strap 1 in U-shaped position on the shoulder of the golfer, as shown in FIG. 1.

Suitably carried by and attached to the front portion of the shoulder strap 1 is a bellows member 12, which may be and preferably is a unitary hollow body of flexible, but relatively stiff plastic material, such as a suitably slightly plasticized polyvinyl chloride. The bellows member may be readily produced by the well-known rotary casting process from a suitably compounded plastisol composition. The bellows 12 is provided with a single opening 13 for the exit and egress of air when the upper wall thereof is flexed by contact with the chin of the golfer. A suitable whistle 14 is fastened in the device so as to be in communicable contact with the opening 14 on the one side and on the other side in communication the outer atmosphere, preferable through the channel 15. When air enters the whistle from the opening 14 caused by deflection of the bellows 12, the air will be expelled from the whistle 14 into the channel 15 and thence into the atmosphere.

The bellows 12 comprises relatively flat upper wall portion 16 and a relatively flat lower wall portion 17, and suitable connecting sidewall portions 18. The lower wall portion or bottom wall 17 is preferably shaped to provide a cavity of suitable size to tightly receive the whistle 14 therein, so that the whistle 14 will not be apparent from the outside of the device.

In the operation of the device, the strap 1 is placed on a shoulder of the golfer, i.e., on the right shoulder if the golfer is right handed and on the left shoulder if the golfer is left handed. The strap is so placed that the longer end portion having slots 8 and 9 therein is disposed at the rear of the golfers shoulder and the bellows occupies the position from adjacent the crest of the shoulder, almost to the armpit.

In the case of a right-handed golfer wearing the device in the proper position on his right shoulder, the device teaches the golfer to hold his head in the proper position during the ex ecution of the downswing and until actual contact between clubhead and ball occurs. When the golfer maintains the head in the proper position, head down and straight, eyes on the ball and no movement of the head during the down swing, the chin will contact the bellows and deflect it causing the device to whistle. Any slight movement of the head will result in varying degrees of pressure exerted on the bellows which in turn varies the pitch sound of the whistle. Golfers are found to soon become familiar with the whistle intensity that produces the most desirable results.

The device can also be used to teach the golfer a proper and maximum backswing while maintaining the head in the proper position.

A right-handed golfer when learning the backswing would wear the device on the left shoulder. As he executes his backswing with the head in the proper position, and when he reaches the top of his particular backswing his chin will depress the bellows causing the device to whistle and indicate that the downswing is to begin, and that the head is in the proper position.

A left-handed golfer would reverse the placement of device for the desired learning effect.

It is to be understood that in accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, variations and modifications of the specific device herein shown and described for purposes of illustration may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A device for assisting in the teaching of the proper swings in the game of golf, said device comprising a bellows of flexible plastic having an opening therein for ingress and egress of air, a whistle positioned in communication with said opening to receive air upon deflection of said bellows and expel said air to the atmosphere, mounting means attached to said bellows for fastening said bellows and said whistle in a position on the front of a shoulder of the golfer but below the crest of his shoulder, said mounting means comprising a flexible mounting strap to be bent in inverted U-shape to overlie the crest and upper front and back portions of a shoulder of the golfer and an adjustable torso-encircling tie means connected to said mounting strap at opposite ends thereof to be disposed horizontally and surround the torso of the golfer beneath his armpits.

2. A device for improving the swing of a golfer, said device comprising a bellows member formed of a unitarily molded,

relatively stiff, flexible plastic material and having relatively flat upper and lower wall portions, said bellows member having a whistle-receiving cavity formed in the lower wall thereof, a whistle in said cavity and an opening for ingress and egress of air to and from said bellows in communication with the operative opening in said whistle and the exit to the atmosphere therefrom, a mounting strap of flexible plastic material having a backing of foamed rubberlike material integral therewith, an adjustable torso strap suitable for encircling the torso of the golfer under both of his armpits, means for connecting separate portions of said torso strap to the opposite end portions of said mounting strap, and means for attaching said bellows and said whistle to said mounting strap in a position on the outer surface of said mounting strap, closer to one end portion thereof than to the other, so that when the said mounting strap is disposed on the shoulder of the golfer in inverted U-shaped form, said bellows may be carried on the shoulder of the golfer below the crest thereof and below his armpit, whereby when said bellows is deflected by relative movement of the chin and shoulder of the golfer a characteristic sound is emitted.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said bellows member is of slightly plasticized polyvinyl chloride and said mounting strap comprises essentially an upper layer of a plasticized polyvinyl polymer and a layer of foamed polyurethane bonded to the lower surface of said upper layer.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said torso strap is connected to said mounting strap through openings formed in the opposite ends of said mounting strap. 

1. A device for assisting in the teaching of the proper swings in the game of golf, said device comprising a bellows of flexible plastic having an opening therein for ingress and egress of air, a whistle positioned in communication with said opening to receive air upon deflection of said bellows and expel said air to the atmosphere, mounting means attached to said bellows for fastening said bellows and said whistle in a position on the front of a shoulder of the golfer but below the crest of his shoulder, said mounting means comprising a flexible mounting strap to be bent in inverted U-shape to overlie the crest and upper front and back portions of a shoulder of the golfer and an adjustable torso-encircling tie means connected to said mounting strap at opposite ends thereof to be disposed horizontally and surround the torso of the golfer beneath his armpits.
 2. A device for improving the swing of a golfer, said device comprising a bellows member formed of a unitarily molded, relatively stiff, flexible plastic material and having relatively flat upper and lower wall portions, said bellows member having a whistle-receiving cavity formed in the lower wall thereof, a whistle in said cavity and an opening for ingress and egress of air to and from said bellows in communication with the operative opening in said whistle and the exit to the atmosphere therefrom, a mounting strap of flexible plastic material having a backing of foamed rubberlike material integral therewith, an adjustable torso strap suitable for encircling the torso of the golfer under both of his armpits, means for connecting separate portions of said torso strap to the opposite end portions of said mounting strap, and means for attaching said bellows and said whistle to said mounting strap in a position on the outer surface of said mounting strap, closer to one end portion thereof than to the other, so that when the said mounting strap is disposed on the shoulder of the golfer in inverted U-shaped form, said bellows may be carried on the shoulder of the golfer below the crest thereof and below his armpit, whereby when said bellows is deflected by relative movement of the chin and shoulder of the golfer a characteristic sound is emitted.
 3. The device of claim 2 wherein said bellows member is of slightly plasticized polyvinyl chloride and said mounting strap comprises essentially an upper layer of a plasticized polyvinyl polymer and a layer of foamed polyurethane bonded to the lower surface of said upper layer.
 4. The device of claim 3 wherein said torso strap is connected to said mounting strap through openings formed in the opposite ends of said mounting strap. 